-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 H54x0dn7R0FacEHzaGCdc+FNVt3m8Cpj+XjOBRD61pstaQJKmlI8kPOhIAPsOOQ+
 WbBmjDSE1eMgW9M49f9iDQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001188797-08-000069.txt : 20080401
<SEC-HEADER>0001188797-08-000069.hdr.sgml : 20080401
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080401165955
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001188797-08-000069
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080331
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080401
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080401

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WEATHERFORD INTERNATIONAL LTD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001170565
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	DRILLING OIL & GAS WELLS [1381]
		IRS NUMBER:				980371344
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			D0
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		515 POST OAK BLVD
		STREET 2:		STE 600
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77027-3415
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7136934000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		515 POST OAK BLVD
		STREET 2:		STE 600
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77027-3415

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MILLARD ROBERT B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001188791

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31339
		FILM NUMBER:		08730129

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7136934000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		515 POST OAK BLVD., SUITE 600
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77027
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-03-31</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001170565</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WEATHERFORD INTERNATIONAL LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WFT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001188791</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MILLARD ROBERT B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>399 PARK AVENUE, 9TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-03-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>18</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>72.15</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>18</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3917</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-03-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>36</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>36</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3953</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The phantom stock units convert to common shares on a one-for-one basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">All phantom stock units credited under the Company's Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the &quot;Plan&quot;) are 100% vested at all times.  Distributions are made on a specified date selected by the participant or upon a participant's death or termination of service as a director.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Burt M. Martin, by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-04-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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